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Red in Tooth and Claw
Faolan Kelly’s grandfather is dead. She’s alone in the world and suddenly homeless, all because the local powers that be don’t think a young man of sixteen is mature enough to take over his grandfather’s homestead…and that’s with them thinking Faolan is a young man. If she revealed that her grandfather had been disguising her for years, they would marry her off at the first opportunity.
The mayor finds a solution that serves everyone but Faolan. He hires a gunslinger to ship her off to the Settlement, a remote fort where social outcasts live under the leadership of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. It's a place rife with mystery, kept afloat by suspicious wealth. Dillard's absolute command over his staff just doesn't seem right. And neither do the strange noises that keep Faolan up at night.
When Faolan finds the body of a Settlement boarder, mangled by something that can’t possibly be human, it’s clear something vicious is stalking the palisades. And as Settlement boarders continue to drop like flies, Faolan knows she must escape to evade the creature’s wrath.
The mayor finds a solution that serves everyone but Faolan. He hires a gunslinger to ship her off to the Settlement, a remote fort where social outcasts live under the leadership of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. It's a place rife with mystery, kept afloat by suspicious wealth. Dillard's absolute command over his staff just doesn't seem right. And neither do the strange noises that keep Faolan up at night.
When Faolan finds the body of a Settlement boarder, mangled by something that can’t possibly be human, it’s clear something vicious is stalking the palisades. And as Settlement boarders continue to drop like flies, Faolan knows she must escape to evade the creature’s wrath.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2024
88 people are currently reading
12005 people want to read
About the author
Lish McBride
28 books1,314 followersLish McBride is the author of funny and creepy Young Adult books such as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer; Necromancing the Stone; Firebug; and Pyromantic. She has published short stories in the Normal School, Tor.com, and the anthologies Cornered, What to Read in the Rain, Freaks & Other Family, and Kisses & Curses. She got her BFA in creative writing from Seattle University and her MFA from University of New Orleans. Lish is also currently a bookseller and event host at Third Place Books, a giant thriving indie bookstore just outside of Seattle. Her first book, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults title, Morris Award finalist, and won the Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award. While she has no long term goals for world domination, she would like her own castle.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
July 23, 2024
It all started so well…
Cover hinting at sending-shivers-down-the-back horror — check!
An eerie look at life in the Frontier — check!
Awesome voice — double check!
And it got better from there (at least for a while), as Red on Tooth and Claw opens strongly with young Mr. Faolan Kelly being dispossessed of his land, his home, and everything he has known since birth by a greedy Major just moments after the funeral of senior Mr. Kelly, Faolan’s grandfather.
Faolan is the legitimate holder of the land, and he has a title to prove it. Regardless, the Major is using Faolan’s age, a few months short of eighteen, as an excuse to take possession of the homestead and exploit it for his own benefit. To do so, the Major is sending Faolan away. Under the vigilant eye of a for-hire gunslinger, Faolan is traveling to The Fort, a settlement too far from home but too close to the edge of the untamed wilderness.
The Fort has a terrible reputation. Violence, famine, death…. Every past attempt at making it a sustainable settlement had failed. But, under the wise eye of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard, things seem to be changing. The change is so incredibly positive, residents of the Fort are now taking in orphans and other people in need, feeding them, clothing them, and teaching them, without asking for anything in return. Now, if those orphans just so happen to own some gold, a lovely piece of jewelry, or some land… Well, aren’t those some happy coincidences?
To make things harder, Faolan has a life-changing secret to keep. He’s not a young man as everyone has always thought, but a young woman, whose grandfather disguised since toddlerhood in an effort to keep her safe from people’s prejudices and greed—the best way to get someone’s granddaughter’s rightful inheritance? Marry her to whoever you need to. The sooner, the better.
Much against Faolan’s natural tendencies, surviving in the Fort without revealing her true identity to everyone will require her to trust some of the people around. Worse, it would mean making friends, something Faolan has zero experience with.
Add a wild supernatural beast eating Fort residents at will every other night and you’ll soon see that escaping is Faolan’s only choice.
And this is the moment when the story took a turn that puzzled me. When Faolan is assigned to collect prey from snares along one of the many deer trails, she comes in contact with the Rovers. At first, I thought the Rovers were McBride's interpretation of Native Americans, wanting to create a fictional tribe to make things easier on herself. The problem with my assumption was that many of the descriptions from the musical instruments used by the Rovers, passing by the very peculiar plant recipes used for healing, to their ways of transportation, felt too reminiscent of a Romany life-style. I may have been reading too much into the descriptions or the descriptions may be ambiguous on purpose, but after the excellent job McBride did recreating everything else, this part felt incongruent. Thus, my disbelief was shattered and enjoying the rest of the story became a chore.
I think that, putting in the fewer words possible, this story would have benefited from having no magic at all, turning it into a pure historical fiction mystery, or of having way more magic, making it clear from the start that this was to be mostly a fantasy book set in a Frontier-like world. As it is, it falls uncomfortable in between the two, which makes the resolution of the story feel a bit Deux-Ex-Machina and quite unsatisfactory.
All that said, the balance is a positive one. I did like the book, and once I was able to put aside my puzzlement at the aforementioned incongruence aside, I enjoyed the story even if the end was not as interesting as it could’ve been.
Cover hinting at sending-shivers-down-the-back horror — check!
An eerie look at life in the Frontier — check!
Awesome voice — double check!
And it got better from there (at least for a while), as Red on Tooth and Claw opens strongly with young Mr. Faolan Kelly being dispossessed of his land, his home, and everything he has known since birth by a greedy Major just moments after the funeral of senior Mr. Kelly, Faolan’s grandfather.
Faolan is the legitimate holder of the land, and he has a title to prove it. Regardless, the Major is using Faolan’s age, a few months short of eighteen, as an excuse to take possession of the homestead and exploit it for his own benefit. To do so, the Major is sending Faolan away. Under the vigilant eye of a for-hire gunslinger, Faolan is traveling to The Fort, a settlement too far from home but too close to the edge of the untamed wilderness.
The Fort has a terrible reputation. Violence, famine, death…. Every past attempt at making it a sustainable settlement had failed. But, under the wise eye of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard, things seem to be changing. The change is so incredibly positive, residents of the Fort are now taking in orphans and other people in need, feeding them, clothing them, and teaching them, without asking for anything in return. Now, if those orphans just so happen to own some gold, a lovely piece of jewelry, or some land… Well, aren’t those some happy coincidences?
To make things harder, Faolan has a life-changing secret to keep. He’s not a young man as everyone has always thought, but a young woman, whose grandfather disguised since toddlerhood in an effort to keep her safe from people’s prejudices and greed—the best way to get someone’s granddaughter’s rightful inheritance? Marry her to whoever you need to. The sooner, the better.
Much against Faolan’s natural tendencies, surviving in the Fort without revealing her true identity to everyone will require her to trust some of the people around. Worse, it would mean making friends, something Faolan has zero experience with.
Add a wild supernatural beast eating Fort residents at will every other night and you’ll soon see that escaping is Faolan’s only choice.
And this is the moment when the story took a turn that puzzled me. When Faolan is assigned to collect prey from snares along one of the many deer trails, she comes in contact with the Rovers. At first, I thought the Rovers were McBride's interpretation of Native Americans, wanting to create a fictional tribe to make things easier on herself. The problem with my assumption was that many of the descriptions from the musical instruments used by the Rovers, passing by the very peculiar plant recipes used for healing, to their ways of transportation, felt too reminiscent of a Romany life-style. I may have been reading too much into the descriptions or the descriptions may be ambiguous on purpose, but after the excellent job McBride did recreating everything else, this part felt incongruent. Thus, my disbelief was shattered and enjoying the rest of the story became a chore.
I think that, putting in the fewer words possible, this story would have benefited from having no magic at all, turning it into a pure historical fiction mystery, or of having way more magic, making it clear from the start that this was to be mostly a fantasy book set in a Frontier-like world. As it is, it falls uncomfortable in between the two, which makes the resolution of the story feel a bit Deux-Ex-Machina and quite unsatisfactory.
All that said, the balance is a positive one. I did like the book, and once I was able to put aside my puzzlement at the aforementioned incongruence aside, I enjoyed the story even if the end was not as interesting as it could’ve been.
June 19, 2025
**3.5-stars**
Red in Tooth and Claw is a very original and quite strange YA story. I loved the overall tone, but didn't find it particularly compelling. Therefore, it's a tough one to rate.
It took me what felt like forever to read, over 2-weeks for 400-pages is a long time, but I would still say I enjoyed it. I think maybe the pacing was a little off for me. That was my biggest issue with it, and that's not bad.
This story follows Faolan Kelly after her beloved grandfather, her sole guardian and only remaining family member, passes away.
She's now alone in the world, and essentially homeless, as the local powers that be don't feel like a young person of 16 is mature enough to take over the family homestead.
They also think Faolan is a young man, which is how her grandfather wanted it. Life was too dangerous for girls then, and if they found out, she would be married off as soon as possible. Her life no longer her own.
After his death, Faolan continues on with the charade. She's not ready to expose her true self. It would change everything, and her life is already in enough turmoil as it is. She can only take one step at a time.
The mayor, appointing himself as the decider of Faolan's fate, decides to have them shipped off to the Settlement; a remote outpost, home to many societal outcasts. The place is mysterious, and Faolan has no idea what to expect.
She goes though, because honestly, she's out of options. Paired up with a gunslinger, to ensure her safe passage, Faolan decides to just keep her head down and bide her time until she can hopefully get her Grandfather's property back.
Once she's there, the mysteries of the Settlement only expand. The people she meets, the rules, their leader, it's all so strange. What is the point of this whole thing? Why all the rules, and what's lurking around at night?
While this wasn't a touchdown for me, there were definitely many aspects of this story that I felt the author did really well and that I thoroughly appreciated.
First and foremost would be the atmosphere and overall vibe of the Settlement itself. I loved the slow build of the world and was fascinated with the idea of the Settlement. It's clear it was meant to have a sort of quasi-religious component, and I felt like the author portrayed that really well.
It felt cultish. I feared for Faolan's safety from the moment she got there. The unsettling feelings were only enhanced when Faolan begins hearing crazy noises at night.
It's not all bad and scary though. Faolan does make some allies at the Settlement, including the fabulous Ms. Moon, and young loves, Jesse and Dai Lo.
With these new friends, as well as a few others, a lovely found family element is eventually established, which I always love to see.
There is a bit of a mystery too, as some people end up dead under very mysterious circumstance and Faolon investigates what was the cause of those deaths. Trust me when I say, I never could have predicted the direction this eventually took.
It was so bizarre, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the Western feel and concepts. It was very different, unlike anything I've ever read and I walk away impressed with this author's creativity and vivid imagination.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This won't be the last I read from Lish McBride!
Red in Tooth and Claw is a very original and quite strange YA story. I loved the overall tone, but didn't find it particularly compelling. Therefore, it's a tough one to rate.
It took me what felt like forever to read, over 2-weeks for 400-pages is a long time, but I would still say I enjoyed it. I think maybe the pacing was a little off for me. That was my biggest issue with it, and that's not bad.
This story follows Faolan Kelly after her beloved grandfather, her sole guardian and only remaining family member, passes away.
She's now alone in the world, and essentially homeless, as the local powers that be don't feel like a young person of 16 is mature enough to take over the family homestead.
They also think Faolan is a young man, which is how her grandfather wanted it. Life was too dangerous for girls then, and if they found out, she would be married off as soon as possible. Her life no longer her own.
After his death, Faolan continues on with the charade. She's not ready to expose her true self. It would change everything, and her life is already in enough turmoil as it is. She can only take one step at a time.
The mayor, appointing himself as the decider of Faolan's fate, decides to have them shipped off to the Settlement; a remote outpost, home to many societal outcasts. The place is mysterious, and Faolan has no idea what to expect.
She goes though, because honestly, she's out of options. Paired up with a gunslinger, to ensure her safe passage, Faolan decides to just keep her head down and bide her time until she can hopefully get her Grandfather's property back.
Once she's there, the mysteries of the Settlement only expand. The people she meets, the rules, their leader, it's all so strange. What is the point of this whole thing? Why all the rules, and what's lurking around at night?
While this wasn't a touchdown for me, there were definitely many aspects of this story that I felt the author did really well and that I thoroughly appreciated.
First and foremost would be the atmosphere and overall vibe of the Settlement itself. I loved the slow build of the world and was fascinated with the idea of the Settlement. It's clear it was meant to have a sort of quasi-religious component, and I felt like the author portrayed that really well.
It felt cultish. I feared for Faolan's safety from the moment she got there. The unsettling feelings were only enhanced when Faolan begins hearing crazy noises at night.
It's not all bad and scary though. Faolan does make some allies at the Settlement, including the fabulous Ms. Moon, and young loves, Jesse and Dai Lo.
With these new friends, as well as a few others, a lovely found family element is eventually established, which I always love to see.
There is a bit of a mystery too, as some people end up dead under very mysterious circumstance and Faolon investigates what was the cause of those deaths. Trust me when I say, I never could have predicted the direction this eventually took.
It was so bizarre, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the Western feel and concepts. It was very different, unlike anything I've ever read and I walk away impressed with this author's creativity and vivid imagination.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This won't be the last I read from Lish McBride!
October 20, 2024
Sigh. Another case of mismarketing — this is NOT horror, it’s a western with a bit of magical realism and light fantasy. It’s fine. Characters a bit flat and rushed, and the “romance” shouldn’t be in it at all imo.
April 5, 2025
This book has been pure joy to read because it is so original and so blessedly unique! Red in Tooth and Claw is a fantasy/Western/Romance/Coming of Age/Murder Mystery about a 17 year old young woman who dresses and lives as a boy. Faolan is one of the most fascinating characters I've read about this year. Her voice is so authentic that I could actually hear it vividly in my head as I was reading. She's incredibly likable, tough, young, naive (without being annoying so) and fiercely loyal to those lucky enough to call themselves her friend. She is living in a western settlement on land legally deeded to her grandfather when he suddenly passes away. The local mayor (who is basically the wealthiest, most corrupt man in town) attempts to swindle her out of the land deed by shipping Faolan off to a work encampment run by a very questionable minister and a corrupt matron (think Aunt Lidia but the western version) where orphaned children keep dying or disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Faolan and the few others she manages to befriend must solve the mystery behind what or who is disappearing the children in this camp before she herself falls victim.
This novel has everything from romance and love interests to magical wildcats to demonic ghosts. There is never a dull stretch. I was fully engaged start to finish! If you are sick of reading about long lost cis princesses who must work to save yet another kingdom where magic has been banned while falling in love with a fairy prince who spends half of the book rebuffing her rudely, Red in Tooth and Claw is your cure all!
This novel has everything from romance and love interests to magical wildcats to demonic ghosts. There is never a dull stretch. I was fully engaged start to finish! If you are sick of reading about long lost cis princesses who must work to save yet another kingdom where magic has been banned while falling in love with a fairy prince who spends half of the book rebuffing her rudely, Red in Tooth and Claw is your cure all!
December 16, 2024
A YA western horror fantasy magic novel. Reminded me a little too much of the book ‘Red Rabbitt’ but not necessarily in a good way. I get the feeling that part of the reason I was unsatisfied with the novel was because it is geared for Young Adults, and I am so far behind that audience that I can’t really relate. Where was the horror? Very long, the story drags on and on; and what really happened throughout? Not much of anything. A truly underwhelming story.
On the upside the book had great cover art.
Thank you to Goodreads / Penguin Teen for the complimentary copy of the book to read and review.
On the upside the book had great cover art.
Thank you to Goodreads / Penguin Teen for the complimentary copy of the book to read and review.
January 14, 2025
2.5 rounded to 3
"𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐱, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝."
Honestly? I am kind of disappointed with this one. I know that it's labeled as a YA horror book, but it comes off as magical realism with murder. Just because it's for young adults does not mean it can't have truly scary elements. In addition to that, there was absolutely no need for the romance arc (if you could call it that) that just randomly happens about 60% through. It could've been left as a found family trope and I would have had a much better time reading. I think had this been advertised correctly, I would have enjoyed it more. All that being said, I think that McBride's idea here was somewhat unique... unfortunately for me it didn't seem to be as fleshed out as I had hoped it would be.
"𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐱, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝."
Honestly? I am kind of disappointed with this one. I know that it's labeled as a YA horror book, but it comes off as magical realism with murder. Just because it's for young adults does not mean it can't have truly scary elements. In addition to that, there was absolutely no need for the romance arc (if you could call it that) that just randomly happens about 60% through. It could've been left as a found family trope and I would have had a much better time reading. I think had this been advertised correctly, I would have enjoyed it more. All that being said, I think that McBride's idea here was somewhat unique... unfortunately for me it didn't seem to be as fleshed out as I had hoped it would be.
October 4, 2024
If you like western horror filled with intricate characters, loads of heart, and as the title implies, blood and claws, this novel should be a must read.
Faolin Kelley is seventeen years old and just lost her only relative, her grandfather. The mayor of the town sends her away to a settlement hours away hoping to take her rightful farm and land for himself.
This settlement is run by a religious group who are strict and not all that caring. Adding to her troubles, she is known as a boy because she hides her womanhood beneath men's clothes and hairstyle.
Escape isn't possible. If the leaders don't get her, there's something on the woods which hunts for sport and leaves its bloody mark in the area.
As she attempts to navigate this place, she'll form bonds with others, reluctantly at first, and she'll realize she's going to need all the help she can if she's to survive.
Faolin is a fantastic character. Tough, hard headed, and not trusting. But she also has a lonely vulnerable side which shines through. The other characters are just as well written and I'll leave them for you to discover because it's a treat. Seeing these relationships form over time is great and really packs a heart felt punch.
This book bleeds atmosphere and immerses you into that world on every page. You'll have a hard time putting this one down once you start reading.
Extremely tense, terrifying, and leaving you wanting more. I highly recommend this novel.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Faolin Kelley is seventeen years old and just lost her only relative, her grandfather. The mayor of the town sends her away to a settlement hours away hoping to take her rightful farm and land for himself.
This settlement is run by a religious group who are strict and not all that caring. Adding to her troubles, she is known as a boy because she hides her womanhood beneath men's clothes and hairstyle.
Escape isn't possible. If the leaders don't get her, there's something on the woods which hunts for sport and leaves its bloody mark in the area.
As she attempts to navigate this place, she'll form bonds with others, reluctantly at first, and she'll realize she's going to need all the help she can if she's to survive.
Faolin is a fantastic character. Tough, hard headed, and not trusting. But she also has a lonely vulnerable side which shines through. The other characters are just as well written and I'll leave them for you to discover because it's a treat. Seeing these relationships form over time is great and really packs a heart felt punch.
This book bleeds atmosphere and immerses you into that world on every page. You'll have a hard time putting this one down once you start reading.
Extremely tense, terrifying, and leaving you wanting more. I highly recommend this novel.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
September 22, 2024
I don't normally read a western-y book, but it's Lish and she's never steered me wrong, so I was all in.
I loved this cast of characters. There are a lot of people, but really just a small core group, with Faolan at the center. I enjoyed seeing how some of them clicked instantly and the few that had me wondering about their ulterior motives.
Plot wise, it is a bit of a slow meandering at the beginning, yet it does do a good job at setting up the tension and the wtf-ery of the story. Of course, because it's Lish, there's snark and banter and I just loved all of it.
Overall, this was a captivating read and Lish continues to make it fun to read her stuff.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved this cast of characters. There are a lot of people, but really just a small core group, with Faolan at the center. I enjoyed seeing how some of them clicked instantly and the few that had me wondering about their ulterior motives.
Plot wise, it is a bit of a slow meandering at the beginning, yet it does do a good job at setting up the tension and the wtf-ery of the story. Of course, because it's Lish, there's snark and banter and I just loved all of it.
Overall, this was a captivating read and Lish continues to make it fun to read her stuff.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
June 20, 2025
i wanted to enjoy this despite not enjoying most YA very much, because i do love a good girl-disguised-as-boy thing and because i was scoring this for a contest and wanted to say nice things. unfortunately, basically no part of it worked for me. some reasons for that beyond my not enjoying most YA very much:
- the characters are tragically flat. faolan especially pissed me off, i think because the book wanted me so badly to believe she had traits but only communicated those traits through other characters saying things like, "wow, faolan, you're so brave," or, "wow, faolan, you're a magnet for trouble." if you take away all those assigned-by-dialogue qualities she allegedly has, what is a faolan? a miserable little pile of wild-western accent quirks.
- clunky on-the-nose prose. i can forgive prose that's servicable but not pretty, but holy shit, this book hits you so hard over the head with every single thing you're supposed to take from it. like, every clue to the mystery is painstakingly explained, but also, there are at least four different moments where faolan's narration is like "wow... and i realized... that maybe... it WAS sad that i didn't have any friends to rely on... and maybe... people SHOULDN'T be alone with no one to have their back." again, i know i'm not the target audience for YA anymore, but i've also read some very good YA and middle grade that does not do this. trust your audience i am BEGGING
- the flat characters and total lack of subtlety combine like bleach and ammonia in the romance, which does not need to be here and never stopped making me want to bang my head into the wall. why bother giving your protagonist some line about "not being the type of girl to lose it immediately over a fella" if she is in the act of losing it over a fella. a fella she has just met, mind you, who has no character beyond helping her with plot things and calling her "little fox" all the time in a way that is both patronizing AND annoying. at the very end, there's some line he has that's like "you blush all the time... i can't wait to see if that blush goes all the way down," which is 1. basically the only mention of sex, even via implication, in the whole book and thus feels totally out of place with the assumed target age group (re: the prose beating you with bricks constantly; this doesn't feel like it's on the end of YA where characters are licensed to fuck) and 2. a line that makes me want to put my head through a cinderblock.
- for 2/3s of the book, the plot isn't. then there is a big cat that can turn invisible and comes from another dimension. this is actually pretty banger as a lone concept, but why is it in a book marketed as western cult horror, and why does it only enter at the 70% mark, and why does it jar so hard against everything else about the aesthetic. really no buildup into "hey, also, other dimensions exist"
- and that lack of buildup goes for, well, everything. more aptly: there is no TENSION in this book. what tension does appear is quickly stamped out like a pest. faolan magically knows exactly who to trust and exactly who to stay wary of, meaning you're never worried about her decisions to ally with, eg, a random gunslinger or an interdimensional cat, because the text is caressing your hair promising you that she's actually fine and it's going to be fine. (and then it is fine.) the greatest culprit here is the crossdressing conceit--faolan is disguised as a boy because her grandfather raised her alone and didn't want her to have to deal with being married off, which, sure, but THIS NEVER MATTERS. THIS NEVER EVER MATTERS IN THE PLOT. every character who finds out about faolan's gender is 1. on her side 2. immediately chill with it. like, not even "needed a day or so to chew on the shock of learning your friend is a woman in a presumably transphobic and misogynistic society, but got over it because friendship is magic." i mean IMMEDIATELY chill with it. i thought this might finally pay off in the climax, when the villain is revealed, because said villain is a woman chafing against the cult's insistence on patriarchy and privileging of mediocre men over her own genius. faolan has to convince this woman that they're on the same team, at least long enough to cause a diversion. "ah," thought i, "here's the part where she reveals her true gender, thus winning the villain over with girlpower solidarity until she can neutralize her." and faolan did reveal her real gender, and... nothing. it DID NOT MATTER TO THE SCENE. there's no, "look, i get it, i'm a woman too!" it's literally that faolan's friend fucks up and calls her a she and the villain just kind of laughs and then they move on. so WHAT IS THE POINT OF IT. if there's no tension about faolan's secret, if she never faces consequences for or even really has to navigate around this allegedly major aspect of her situation, WHY PUT IT IN THE BOOK. unfortunately, many such questions.
i was going to give this two stars, but after writing all of that out, i'm struggling to remember what i felt was worthy of a second star. maybe that there are a lot of great concepts here, that could have been something if this book had gone through a couple more drafts. maybe because the cover is banger? because let's be honest, the cover IS banger. maybe because i need to add a buffer star to cancel out my being in the wrong age group here. well. we'll call it one and a half, shall we, and i shall once again commit the sin of being a huge bitch about a book that is not very popular and does not need my scorn but is, nevertheless, Bad™️.
- the characters are tragically flat. faolan especially pissed me off, i think because the book wanted me so badly to believe she had traits but only communicated those traits through other characters saying things like, "wow, faolan, you're so brave," or, "wow, faolan, you're a magnet for trouble." if you take away all those assigned-by-dialogue qualities she allegedly has, what is a faolan? a miserable little pile of wild-western accent quirks.
- clunky on-the-nose prose. i can forgive prose that's servicable but not pretty, but holy shit, this book hits you so hard over the head with every single thing you're supposed to take from it. like, every clue to the mystery is painstakingly explained, but also, there are at least four different moments where faolan's narration is like "wow... and i realized... that maybe... it WAS sad that i didn't have any friends to rely on... and maybe... people SHOULDN'T be alone with no one to have their back." again, i know i'm not the target audience for YA anymore, but i've also read some very good YA and middle grade that does not do this. trust your audience i am BEGGING
- the flat characters and total lack of subtlety combine like bleach and ammonia in the romance, which does not need to be here and never stopped making me want to bang my head into the wall. why bother giving your protagonist some line about "not being the type of girl to lose it immediately over a fella" if she is in the act of losing it over a fella. a fella she has just met, mind you, who has no character beyond helping her with plot things and calling her "little fox" all the time in a way that is both patronizing AND annoying. at the very end, there's some line he has that's like "you blush all the time... i can't wait to see if that blush goes all the way down," which is 1. basically the only mention of sex, even via implication, in the whole book and thus feels totally out of place with the assumed target age group (re: the prose beating you with bricks constantly; this doesn't feel like it's on the end of YA where characters are licensed to fuck) and 2. a line that makes me want to put my head through a cinderblock.
- for 2/3s of the book, the plot isn't. then there is a big cat that can turn invisible and comes from another dimension. this is actually pretty banger as a lone concept, but why is it in a book marketed as western cult horror, and why does it only enter at the 70% mark, and why does it jar so hard against everything else about the aesthetic. really no buildup into "hey, also, other dimensions exist"
- and that lack of buildup goes for, well, everything. more aptly: there is no TENSION in this book. what tension does appear is quickly stamped out like a pest. faolan magically knows exactly who to trust and exactly who to stay wary of, meaning you're never worried about her decisions to ally with, eg, a random gunslinger or an interdimensional cat, because the text is caressing your hair promising you that she's actually fine and it's going to be fine. (and then it is fine.) the greatest culprit here is the crossdressing conceit--faolan is disguised as a boy because her grandfather raised her alone and didn't want her to have to deal with being married off, which, sure, but THIS NEVER MATTERS. THIS NEVER EVER MATTERS IN THE PLOT. every character who finds out about faolan's gender is 1. on her side 2. immediately chill with it. like, not even "needed a day or so to chew on the shock of learning your friend is a woman in a presumably transphobic and misogynistic society, but got over it because friendship is magic." i mean IMMEDIATELY chill with it. i thought this might finally pay off in the climax, when the villain is revealed, because said villain is a woman chafing against the cult's insistence on patriarchy and privileging of mediocre men over her own genius. faolan has to convince this woman that they're on the same team, at least long enough to cause a diversion. "ah," thought i, "here's the part where she reveals her true gender, thus winning the villain over with girlpower solidarity until she can neutralize her." and faolan did reveal her real gender, and... nothing. it DID NOT MATTER TO THE SCENE. there's no, "look, i get it, i'm a woman too!" it's literally that faolan's friend fucks up and calls her a she and the villain just kind of laughs and then they move on. so WHAT IS THE POINT OF IT. if there's no tension about faolan's secret, if she never faces consequences for or even really has to navigate around this allegedly major aspect of her situation, WHY PUT IT IN THE BOOK. unfortunately, many such questions.
i was going to give this two stars, but after writing all of that out, i'm struggling to remember what i felt was worthy of a second star. maybe that there are a lot of great concepts here, that could have been something if this book had gone through a couple more drafts. maybe because the cover is banger? because let's be honest, the cover IS banger. maybe because i need to add a buffer star to cancel out my being in the wrong age group here. well. we'll call it one and a half, shall we, and i shall once again commit the sin of being a huge bitch about a book that is not very popular and does not need my scorn but is, nevertheless, Bad™️.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2024
Faolan (Fway-lawn) is a very well-written main character. I loved following her story arc and her journey at the Settlement. There are people we can trust, and people who will betray us at the first possible moment, and it can very difficult to tell the difference sometimes. Faolan has gone so long trusting no one that she has a hard time opening her heart again.
This story does not end satisfactorily, to me, however. I was left with many questions that I wish had been addressed. That’s my only complaint, though—I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
This story does not end satisfactorily, to me, however. I was left with many questions that I wish had been addressed. That’s my only complaint, though—I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
October 16, 2024
I LOVE this cover and it gives the perfect vibe for this story!
Faolan is a bit adrift after losing the last family member - a beloved grandpa. Not being of age, Faolan is sent off to a boarding type settlement for wayward kids. Faolan is only months from coming of age so is pretty sure this won't be a long stay.
But the settlement has some rumors. Whispers of cult and funny religion seem to follow anyone who goes there. Faolan travels there with a gunslinger and, together, they stay and get the lay of the land while Faolan waits out the time there.
I loved the western type vibes - settlements, gunslingers and land deeds. I loved all the supporting characters and enjoyed each time they jumped into the story. Sometimes your family is your found family and this story really warms the heart in that regard.
It's a great adventure of a story, perfect for the fall vibe!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Faolan is a bit adrift after losing the last family member - a beloved grandpa. Not being of age, Faolan is sent off to a boarding type settlement for wayward kids. Faolan is only months from coming of age so is pretty sure this won't be a long stay.
But the settlement has some rumors. Whispers of cult and funny religion seem to follow anyone who goes there. Faolan travels there with a gunslinger and, together, they stay and get the lay of the land while Faolan waits out the time there.
I loved the western type vibes - settlements, gunslingers and land deeds. I loved all the supporting characters and enjoyed each time they jumped into the story. Sometimes your family is your found family and this story really warms the heart in that regard.
It's a great adventure of a story, perfect for the fall vibe!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
December 6, 2024
This wasn't very good. I really wanted to like it, and the first chapter really pulled me in, but it just got steadily worse the longer it went on. First, the book couldn't decide what it was- historical, fantasy, western... second, Faolan hiding her sex made so little sense and
November 16, 2024
I was unfortunately very disappointed in this. The beginning starts off promising, but the third act feels completely disconnected and like it should’ve been a different story. I also wasn’t a fan of the insta romance. I like Faolan as a character, but she meets this guy twice and all of a sudden she’s in love. I know she’s on a journey of trusting others and building relationships, but it just happens so fast! In an otherwise extremely slow moving novel, the romance was completely underbaked.
In general the Rovers bothered me. I had assumed that they were supposed to be representative of indigenous Americans, and that this was an alternate history where Europeans didn’t succeed in colonizing the US. But I guess they’re more in line with common depictions of Romani people? I was a little confused as to what was going on there.
In general the Rovers bothered me. I had assumed that they were supposed to be representative of indigenous Americans, and that this was an alternate history where Europeans didn’t succeed in colonizing the US. But I guess they’re more in line with common depictions of Romani people? I was a little confused as to what was going on there.
June 5, 2025
3.5 the biggest downside to this story for me was the pacing and suspense. I really enjoyed the overall plot! A western with a creepy cult and strange animals stalking the night, but I didn’t feel a large portion of the middle worked to amp up the suspense. I think there could have been a lot more to build the mystery and point fingers to members of the settlement. All in all, a fun read with a fierce female protagonist and a unique western ambience.
October 27, 2024
Western Horror. Yes Please. Magical Realism and a cozy romance added in for good measure? Absolutely. Found Family storyline? Shut up and take my money.
I went into this book expecting a YA horror that would perfectly fit in with spooky season. I not only got that but got the added bonus of all of my favorite genres rolled into one for an exceptionally fantastic read. Everything from the quirky cast of characters that are instantly likeable to the creepy religious community and a fun magical element weaved throughout made this the perfect read for me. The prose and dialogue were witty with tongue in cheek humor and a sassy Faolan. The action was consistent and page turning with the right blending of horror mixed with sweet loveable moments that mimicked reality with light that can be found in the darkest of situations.
I will definitely be recommending this one to everyone I meet as the genre bending will be sure to appease any fantasy or horror fan. With almost zero spice, it is also perfect for the more well-read middle grade reader on up through adult.
Five stars and I can't wait to dive into McBride's backlist and any future works as this was the first book by her that I have had the privilege of reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lish McBride, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this book expecting a YA horror that would perfectly fit in with spooky season. I not only got that but got the added bonus of all of my favorite genres rolled into one for an exceptionally fantastic read. Everything from the quirky cast of characters that are instantly likeable to the creepy religious community and a fun magical element weaved throughout made this the perfect read for me. The prose and dialogue were witty with tongue in cheek humor and a sassy Faolan. The action was consistent and page turning with the right blending of horror mixed with sweet loveable moments that mimicked reality with light that can be found in the darkest of situations.
I will definitely be recommending this one to everyone I meet as the genre bending will be sure to appease any fantasy or horror fan. With almost zero spice, it is also perfect for the more well-read middle grade reader on up through adult.
Five stars and I can't wait to dive into McBride's backlist and any future works as this was the first book by her that I have had the privilege of reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lish McBride, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2024
3.75/5
I truly wish westerns were more popular in publishing. There is so much potential , and Red in Tooth and Claw really highlights that.
We follow Faolan Kelly, a young girl who has been raised as a boy by her grandfather. After her grandfather dies she is shipped to the Settlement, a secluded fort for social outcasts, as the town officials are hoping to seize her lands. The Settlement has long been rumored to be barren and run down, but once there she finds it bursting with wealth and mystery under the leadership of a very religious man named His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. Faolan must do everything to keep her true gender a secret, and find a way back to her home. But there is a strange creature lurking the night, and it is killing those who dare step outside the fort walls.
Faolan is my favorite character type, quick witted paired with a smart mouth. She often gets herself into rough situations because of her snark and anger, but is smart enough to find a way out after. She is a very strong lovable character. I also appreciated how fleshed out all the side characters were. Will, Jesse, Dai Lo, and Tallis were wonderful additions to the story. I especially loved the inclusion of the Rovers and how they offered Faolan an outlet for her music, as well as a place in the world.
I will say, I think this could have gone more into the horror. I got a lot of Midnight Mass vibes from the extreme religious nature of the isolated fort and the unsettling creature stalking the night. However, it all felt a little too tame for my liking. HisBen Dillard took up most of the conflict rather than the strange beast, so the majority of the story felt like it lacked eeriness.
I was at times confused by the world building, a lot seemed to be glossed over. But the vibrant characters really carried the story, so overall I had a good time.
I truly wish westerns were more popular in publishing. There is so much potential , and Red in Tooth and Claw really highlights that.
We follow Faolan Kelly, a young girl who has been raised as a boy by her grandfather. After her grandfather dies she is shipped to the Settlement, a secluded fort for social outcasts, as the town officials are hoping to seize her lands. The Settlement has long been rumored to be barren and run down, but once there she finds it bursting with wealth and mystery under the leadership of a very religious man named His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. Faolan must do everything to keep her true gender a secret, and find a way back to her home. But there is a strange creature lurking the night, and it is killing those who dare step outside the fort walls.
Faolan is my favorite character type, quick witted paired with a smart mouth. She often gets herself into rough situations because of her snark and anger, but is smart enough to find a way out after. She is a very strong lovable character. I also appreciated how fleshed out all the side characters were. Will, Jesse, Dai Lo, and Tallis were wonderful additions to the story. I especially loved the inclusion of the Rovers and how they offered Faolan an outlet for her music, as well as a place in the world.
I will say, I think this could have gone more into the horror. I got a lot of Midnight Mass vibes from the extreme religious nature of the isolated fort and the unsettling creature stalking the night. However, it all felt a little too tame for my liking. HisBen Dillard took up most of the conflict rather than the strange beast, so the majority of the story felt like it lacked eeriness.
I was at times confused by the world building, a lot seemed to be glossed over. But the vibrant characters really carried the story, so overall I had a good time.
November 27, 2024
Ungefähr das erste Drittel ist gut, ich kaufe/leihe nichttraditionelle Westernvariationen ja sofort und ungetestet. Aber dann kommen so schlechte Stellen (Pacing vor allem, aber auch der Stil ändert sich komplett, von Erwachsenenwestern zu Generic YA), als wäre das Buch von zwei ganz unterschiedlichen Leuten geschrieben, und ab der Hälfte ist dann alles so. Schade, die Idee war vielversprechend, ein bisschen wie "Holes", aber als Western.
October 15, 2025
Listened to audiobook.
This was alright, just not at all what I was expecting. It's marketed like a horror or thriller, but really it was like a western coming of age story with some very, very light supernatural/fantasy elements. (I'm tempted to say it was more like magic realism, but I don't think that categorization is quite right.)
The narrator was good, and there's definitely a strong voice to the narrative, but I found the story kind of slow and meandering. It felt like the protagonist just kind of fell into a plot line in the last 30%, not like we were building up to anything. I also found the romance out of place and kind of uncomfortable. Felt a little like self-insert fanfic, if you know the vibes.
This was alright, just not at all what I was expecting. It's marketed like a horror or thriller, but really it was like a western coming of age story with some very, very light supernatural/fantasy elements. (I'm tempted to say it was more like magic realism, but I don't think that categorization is quite right.)
The narrator was good, and there's definitely a strong voice to the narrative, but I found the story kind of slow and meandering. It felt like the protagonist just kind of fell into a plot line in the last 30%, not like we were building up to anything. I also found the romance out of place and kind of uncomfortable. Felt a little like self-insert fanfic, if you know the vibes.
April 1, 2025
3.5
A fun little YA western / horror / fantasy … sure!
When our protagonist is left orphaned too young to inherit the family land, she’s shipped off to a spooky compound in the wilderness disguised as a boy. Hijinks ensue! This was a little different from my typical fare, but I’m docking a point for the terrible romance plot.
A fun little YA western / horror / fantasy … sure!
When our protagonist is left orphaned too young to inherit the family land, she’s shipped off to a spooky compound in the wilderness disguised as a boy. Hijinks ensue! This was a little different from my typical fare, but I’m docking a point for the terrible romance plot.
February 1, 2025
Moved way too slow for me. The beginning and end are interesting but the middle dragged on forever. I didn't feel the tension of the story until the end and I wish the concepts we're introduced to in the third act were more present throughout the book.
January 8, 2025
Well this was extremely disappointing if someone could point me in the direction of where the Horror was that would be great, because it was absolutely non existent in this. This was more western with some random magic then it was horror. There was no atmosphere, not once did I ever feel like these characters were going through or dealing with something potentially scary. Sure there was a few scenes of "something howling in the night" but they literally lived in a settlement in the forest, were wolves, and coyotes and such live too, so the howling wasn't exactly out of the norm.
Faolan was one of those characters where initially she seemed interesting but as the book progressed became more frustrating and by the time I got to the end I hated her. Now this is most likely due to the story doing what every YA book does and that's adding in an unnecessary romance! Please who greenlight the romance in this and why did we think it would have added anything to the story, because it didn't, it actually made the story worse. She talked to the love interest twice before she decided he was the love of her life, oh and let's also not forget that on the first meeting HE is the one she reveals her whole backstory to about why she dresses like a boy (which was such a dumb reason by the way) not the boy and girl back at the settlement she has been becoming friends with, not the gunslinger who is also slowly becoming someone she can depend on, the random boy she just met is the one who gets to learn it first, makes total sense!!!!!
The plot was predictable, along with who will live and who will die, the mastermind behind this poor excuse of a cult, because let's be real there was zero exploration into that. None of the scenes were scary, oh and so you know the "horror" didnt pop up until roughly 260ish pages and it was broken into two scenes, the other not happening until 63 pages were left in the story. The whole last half of the story just completely fizzled out and frankly felt like a different story. Also one of the quotes talks about this being bloody, it's really not, there is like 2 maybe 3 scenes it's honestly extremely disappointing how the horror elements in this was so bad.
Also why was it never explained why and how Faolan woke up in the forest?? Why was this never addressed?? Was it just put in so she could have reason to be with her love interest and make out??? Because thats what it seems to be, unless I missed the explanation.
Faolan was one of those characters where initially she seemed interesting but as the book progressed became more frustrating and by the time I got to the end I hated her. Now this is most likely due to the story doing what every YA book does and that's adding in an unnecessary romance! Please who greenlight the romance in this and why did we think it would have added anything to the story, because it didn't, it actually made the story worse. She talked to the love interest twice before she decided he was the love of her life, oh and let's also not forget that on the first meeting HE is the one she reveals her whole backstory to about why she dresses like a boy (which was such a dumb reason by the way) not the boy and girl back at the settlement she has been becoming friends with, not the gunslinger who is also slowly becoming someone she can depend on, the random boy she just met is the one who gets to learn it first, makes total sense!!!!!
The plot was predictable, along with who will live and who will die, the mastermind behind this poor excuse of a cult, because let's be real there was zero exploration into that. None of the scenes were scary, oh and so you know the "horror" didnt pop up until roughly 260ish pages and it was broken into two scenes, the other not happening until 63 pages were left in the story. The whole last half of the story just completely fizzled out and frankly felt like a different story. Also one of the quotes talks about this being bloody, it's really not, there is like 2 maybe 3 scenes it's honestly extremely disappointing how the horror elements in this was so bad.
Also why was it never explained why and how Faolan woke up in the forest?? Why was this never addressed?? Was it just put in so she could have reason to be with her love interest and make out??? Because thats what it seems to be, unless I missed the explanation.
October 30, 2024
Red in Tooth and Claw is one of those books that pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. The story centers on Faolan Kelly, a young woman caught between independence and survival in a world that wants to control her every move. After losing her grandfather and with no family left, she’s cast out by the local authorities, who don’t think she’s mature enough to handle the homestead – especially if they knew she was a young woman instead of the “young man” her grandfather had everyone believe. When they send her off to the mysterious Settlement, a fort for social outcasts, things take a dark, suspenseful turn.
Faolan’s struggle to survive in this eerie Settlement, led by the ominous Gideon Dillard, unfolds with a steady blend of suspense and intrigue. The author builds a haunting atmosphere with the Settlement’s strange inhabitants, Dillard’s uncanny influence, and strange noises echoing through the night, making you feel as if you’re right there with Faolan, desperate for answers. When the first body appears, torn apart by something inhuman, the suspense truly ramps up. The stakes are life-or-death as Faolan tries to uncover what – or who – is hunting the Settlement’s residents.
If you’re a fan of dark, character-driven stories with a dash of mystery and horror, Red in Tooth and Claw is a highly recommended read. It’s not just the story of Faolan’s survival but also her fight for freedom and autonomy in a world trying to define her. This book is perfect for a weekend binge-read, as it’ll keep you guessing and leave you thinking long after the last page. Give it a try – you won’t regret it!
Faolan’s struggle to survive in this eerie Settlement, led by the ominous Gideon Dillard, unfolds with a steady blend of suspense and intrigue. The author builds a haunting atmosphere with the Settlement’s strange inhabitants, Dillard’s uncanny influence, and strange noises echoing through the night, making you feel as if you’re right there with Faolan, desperate for answers. When the first body appears, torn apart by something inhuman, the suspense truly ramps up. The stakes are life-or-death as Faolan tries to uncover what – or who – is hunting the Settlement’s residents.
If you’re a fan of dark, character-driven stories with a dash of mystery and horror, Red in Tooth and Claw is a highly recommended read. It’s not just the story of Faolan’s survival but also her fight for freedom and autonomy in a world trying to define her. This book is perfect for a weekend binge-read, as it’ll keep you guessing and leave you thinking long after the last page. Give it a try – you won’t regret it!
February 12, 2025
This book felt more like a concept of a story padded out with 30 long, meandering chapters than a book.
The premise is intriguing enough, but the world building falls flat and leaves me with unanswered questions that I, quite frankly, don’t feel the urge to delve into. I found the protagonist frustratingly irritating— what with her incredibly inconsistent characterization, petulant attitude, and general ineptitude, I was rolling my eyes every time she spoke. Not to mention the romance. “Little Fox” as a pet name 5 minutes into meeting each other? No thank you.
I’m very disappointed by this book. It had some interesting ideas that it had no interest in properly exploring, and left me feeling vaguely angry and bored as I trudged through all 386 never-ending pages.
The premise is intriguing enough, but the world building falls flat and leaves me with unanswered questions that I, quite frankly, don’t feel the urge to delve into. I found the protagonist frustratingly irritating— what with her incredibly inconsistent characterization, petulant attitude, and general ineptitude, I was rolling my eyes every time she spoke. Not to mention the romance. “Little Fox” as a pet name 5 minutes into meeting each other? No thank you.
I’m very disappointed by this book. It had some interesting ideas that it had no interest in properly exploring, and left me feeling vaguely angry and bored as I trudged through all 386 never-ending pages.
Read
March 19, 2024great cover, beautiful cover, shame about the rest of it
October 12, 2024
This was way too long and boring.
October 12, 2024
Westerns are never my thing until they get mixed with horror or fantasy.
Lish McBride’s Red in Tooth and Claw may be marketed as a YA fantasy, but I definitely interpreted it as a YA western horror with cult and occult underpinnings. Fantasy is stretching.
Faolan has larger issues than grief when her grandfather passes that comes in the form of the town elders insisting that at 17 years of age Faolan is too young to be the sole caretaker of the lands she’s ostensibly just inherited… and that’s just when they think she’s a boy like her grandfather has had her masquerade as for all of her life to keep her safe. The frontier isn’t safe for young women. Faolan reckons that facade, along with the deed to the property that’s hidden, is all that’s keeping Faolan from either being offered up for a shotgun wedding or from having to give up that deed if she wants to live. Deciding to bide her time, Faolan doesn’t fight the town’s decision to send her to a mysterious place called The Settlement, which seems to ostensibly be an orphanage or group home run by the head of a new religion Faolan has no intention to follow.
Red in Tooth and Claw is an interesting story that moves along at a nice, steady pace, even if it could use a little more propulsion. I don’t want to say that it’s predictable, but if you’re familiar with this sort of story you can probably identify the direction certain people and certain events are heading. The horror of the story is definitely a slower burn than the intrigue and mystery of the story, which gave the book a nice texture in terms of layering the story: It allowed certain parts of the story to resolve a little before unfolding the next bit that was ready to resolve instead of dumping it all on the reader at once. Normally, I’m all for a book going bonkers, but since this book is geared toward a YA audience and does have a rather large amount of gore in the back half I’m glad that there’s a touch more room to breathe.
It’s a really solid read in a subgenre I wish more people wrote in.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Body Horror/Cult Horror/Occult Horror/Western/YA Fiction/YA Historical/YA Horror
Lish McBride’s Red in Tooth and Claw may be marketed as a YA fantasy, but I definitely interpreted it as a YA western horror with cult and occult underpinnings. Fantasy is stretching.
Faolan has larger issues than grief when her grandfather passes that comes in the form of the town elders insisting that at 17 years of age Faolan is too young to be the sole caretaker of the lands she’s ostensibly just inherited… and that’s just when they think she’s a boy like her grandfather has had her masquerade as for all of her life to keep her safe. The frontier isn’t safe for young women. Faolan reckons that facade, along with the deed to the property that’s hidden, is all that’s keeping Faolan from either being offered up for a shotgun wedding or from having to give up that deed if she wants to live. Deciding to bide her time, Faolan doesn’t fight the town’s decision to send her to a mysterious place called The Settlement, which seems to ostensibly be an orphanage or group home run by the head of a new religion Faolan has no intention to follow.
Red in Tooth and Claw is an interesting story that moves along at a nice, steady pace, even if it could use a little more propulsion. I don’t want to say that it’s predictable, but if you’re familiar with this sort of story you can probably identify the direction certain people and certain events are heading. The horror of the story is definitely a slower burn than the intrigue and mystery of the story, which gave the book a nice texture in terms of layering the story: It allowed certain parts of the story to resolve a little before unfolding the next bit that was ready to resolve instead of dumping it all on the reader at once. Normally, I’m all for a book going bonkers, but since this book is geared toward a YA audience and does have a rather large amount of gore in the back half I’m glad that there’s a touch more room to breathe.
It’s a really solid read in a subgenre I wish more people wrote in.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Body Horror/Cult Horror/Occult Horror/Western/YA Fiction/YA Historical/YA Horror
October 1, 2025
First things first, I really love the cover. If I can remember correctly, it's because of the cover mostly that I ended up requesting for the e-arc.
The 'horror' was also the reason I really wanted to read this, but unfortunately, I would say the horror elements that I wanted and was hoping for were missing.
I honestly would have been fine if there wasn't a horror at all as long as it's at least written well and the paranormal elements were developed more, but nope. Long story short, it was all amiss.
The romance as well was something I wasn't a fan as well because just why? I really don't see any reason for this to have that romance route.
Thanks for the free book, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and PRH International.
The 'horror' was also the reason I really wanted to read this, but unfortunately, I would say the horror elements that I wanted and was hoping for were missing.
I honestly would have been fine if there wasn't a horror at all as long as it's at least written well and the paranormal elements were developed more, but nope. Long story short, it was all amiss.
The romance as well was something I wasn't a fan as well because just why? I really don't see any reason for this to have that romance route.
Thanks for the free book, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and PRH International.
October 20, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
What a DELIGHT this book was for me. Such a good mix of western and horror with a touch of fantasy. I went into this thinking it was more of a werewolf focused story but it was more of a culty western horror with a kickass main character who was super fun to read. I loved all the idioms, made my southern heart happy. I don't want to give too much away since it was so so good going in semi blind.
I particularly enjoyed the way the actual horror elements were described. A specific passage i loved described bodies on the floor reminiscent of "eggs dropped on the kitchen floor." Sometimes you dont need details for a visceral reaction!
There's also a lil romance that was super duper cute to read :)
This book was fast paced and mysterious and spooky, perfect YA read for fall!
What a DELIGHT this book was for me. Such a good mix of western and horror with a touch of fantasy. I went into this thinking it was more of a werewolf focused story but it was more of a culty western horror with a kickass main character who was super fun to read. I loved all the idioms, made my southern heart happy. I don't want to give too much away since it was so so good going in semi blind.
I particularly enjoyed the way the actual horror elements were described. A specific passage i loved described bodies on the floor reminiscent of "eggs dropped on the kitchen floor." Sometimes you dont need details for a visceral reaction!
There's also a lil romance that was super duper cute to read :)
This book was fast paced and mysterious and spooky, perfect YA read for fall!
July 29, 2024
♡ Hurt/Comfort
♡ Western Horror
♡ Wholesome Friendships
This gave off great country horror vibes with a transmasc main character. I absolutely loved it. The writing style was nice and I really enjoyed the characters.
In a way it reminded me of the same queer horror vibes as an Andrew Joseph White book. It was definitely worth reading. This book has wholesome friendships, a mysterious and suspenseful plot that left me so curious as to what would happen by the end, comforting characters, and lovely queer rep.
Thank you to Penguin Teen, the author, and NetGalley for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧💧💧 (3/5)
POV: First Person
Release Date: 08, October 2024
Rep: Transmasc (Main Character), LGBTQIA+ (Main and Side Characters)
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Moderate: Death, Torture, Grief, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty and Religious bigotry
January 28, 2025
Red in Tooth and Claw was an unsettling western horror, that was done very well! I think the voicing was amazing, the atmosphere was heavy and well done. Looking at Frontier life and something hunting the people in the settlement, it created this nice dark narrative. I overall enjoyed this novel.
There were a few things though that didn’t make sense to me, and I saw it mentioned in some other reviews – the Rovers. I originally thought them to be a fictional tribe of Native Americans. But a lot of the aspects of them did feel Romani instead, so perhaps the author was creating a fictional Romani settlement instead. –but I can’t be entirely sure.
I thought the romance was odd, and I didn’t really understand it entirely. It felt out of place a bit to me. I think I am also kind of jaded from reading so many books/YA books that I am burned out on characters who are contrary and difficult “just cuz”. I think maybe I just need more maturity from my MCs at this point in my life. I’m just not sure why they even ended up together.
I DID like this book overall, but there was enough pieces of it that just left it as “okay” for me. I enjoyed the horror elements and the religious fanatics and culty undercurrents. I didn’t like the interdimensional cats.
There were a few things though that didn’t make sense to me, and I saw it mentioned in some other reviews – the Rovers. I originally thought them to be a fictional tribe of Native Americans. But a lot of the aspects of them did feel Romani instead, so perhaps the author was creating a fictional Romani settlement instead. –but I can’t be entirely sure.
I thought the romance was odd, and I didn’t really understand it entirely. It felt out of place a bit to me. I think I am also kind of jaded from reading so many books/YA books that I am burned out on characters who are contrary and difficult “just cuz”. I think maybe I just need more maturity from my MCs at this point in my life. I’m just not sure why they even ended up together.
I DID like this book overall, but there was enough pieces of it that just left it as “okay” for me. I enjoyed the horror elements and the religious fanatics and culty undercurrents. I didn’t like the interdimensional cats.
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